Homeworld (pc: 1999): Reviews

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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Homeworld


8.9

based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 32 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

GAMES:

Official Website

Deported to a harsh desert world, exiles have struggled for three thousand years to regain the stars. Now it's up to you to guide them home through a brutal empire bent on annihilation. Homeworld boasts amazing ship graphics and gorgeous deep-space vistas, a unique command and navigation interface and white-knuckle real-time strategy. [Sierra]

PUBLISHER:	Sierra Studios
DEVELOPER:	Relic
GENRE(S):	Real-Time Strategy, Space Combat
PLAYERS:	8
ESRB RATING:	E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE:	September 1, 1999

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

All Game Guide

Simply one of those titles that makes you say "Wow." You'll have to pick your jaw up off the floor when you experience it for the first time. It is a rare gem; an awesome feat of programming, graphical design, and sound production, all wrapped around superb gameplay. It deserves the highest praise.

100

Adrenaline Vault

Beyond the confines of the single player is the best multiplayer strategy game since "Total Annihilation." ... If you buy a single game this fall -- make sure it's this one!

100

Evil Avatar

Sound in the game is spectacular.

100

Just Adventure

The game is beautifully designed to be an addictive multiplayer extravaganza, as you pit yourself against swarms of enemy ships controlled by human opponents.

IGN

We've rarely played a game with this much substance, and certainly haven't played a game that has had us so excited about the genre in a long, long time.

Gamer's Pulse

An exceptional game, and promises to only get better from here. With only a few small repairs, this game could be the greatest to date.

GameSpy

A truly groundbreaking RTS with no major flaws. The visuals and music are top-notch and the gameplay is on a grand scale. This is the first game I have played where I was truly inspired by the vastness of space.

PC Gamer

Engrossing RTS play matched to a vital and visually intense story make this a gaming experience like no other. [Dec 1999, p.122]

Game Over Online

Where "C&C2;" failed, Homeworld stuns. Where other games relied on contrived formula, Homeworld manages to shine above the crowd. Elements of strategy, space combat, and economics are combined perfectly in a fully 3D environment. A careful balance of fleet tactics, specific ship abilities and resource gathering make every game challenging and unique.

PC Gameworld

Finally, we have a true 3D strategy game that works. With engaging gameplay, a good storyline, and the graphics to back it all up, Homeworld is on the brink of becoming a household name.

Gaming Age

Not only has control of this environment been handled well, but the smoothness of overall presentation and gameplay seem to reflect an excellence from RTS titles that we should all be looking forward to in the future.

Game Revolution

The interface is nothing short of brilliant. The story is well-developed and engrossing. The gameplay is challenging but well-balanced. The graphics and sound are breathtaking. Finally, it is simply a heck of a lot of fun.

GameSpot

With its stunning 3D engine, uniquely challenging gameplay in both single- and multiplayer modes, great audio, and terrific story, Homeworld is both an excellent game and one that may well reshape the entire real-time strategy genre.

Computer Games Magazine

The first computer game to capture the grandeur and epic feel of the "Star Wars" movies... An outstanding, if not perfect, game. It is beautiful to look at, exciting to play, and it takes the RTS genre where no one has gone before.

Yahoo! Games

A solid and compelling title, that can keep you riveted to the very end, even when play starts to border on frustration blowout. Sure, Homeworld has some warts, but these are generally hidden by the game being fresh and innovative, instead of a regurgitated old rehash.

Total Video Games

Everything comes together in such a unique and fantastic way that I can see giving this game no less of a title then strategy game of the year thus far!

EuroGamer

The visuals are beautiful, the soundtrack atmospheric, the single player campaign (mostly) engaging, and the multiplayer is excellent. It's only really let down by suspect AI and a few tedious missions.

GamePro

Excellent graphics, superb story, addictive gameplay, and a simple interface combine to blast 3D real-time strategy into the vastness of space.

Electric Playground

It is hideously complicated---and woe to the foolhardy player who does not pay attention to the game’s tutorials and attack-formation options---but somehow it works, and provides not only a stark, beautiful treat for the eyes but a staggering change to the genre of the real-time strategy game.

TotalGames.net

Big and brave Homeworld might be, it doesn't quite add up to the wondrous game we were hoping for. The spectacle of deep space soon begins to look very empty and the battles repetitive.

The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 32 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Chad M. gave it a10:
Although I also enjoy it's two sequels, Catacylsm and HW2, this original has an undifined touch of score and epicness.

Griper gave it a6:
Finally, comes a game that does what should have been done ages ago... removes the "bulking up" for attack and allows tactical stike forces. But quickly gets overcomplicated and hard to control... it's not like it's a bad game, but learning all that I can learn to play the game isn't that much fun. And the control system feels... tacked on... as if you were never ment to play, but only to watch.

Tiberiu C. gave it a10:
To put it simply: no, there has not been any other game like Homeworld since Homeworld. Or since Homeworld 2. I was never into space strategy games, but Homeworld changed that for me. One of the best games to come out of the Golden Era of PC gaming (that is the end on the 90s). I am looking forward to Sins of a Solar Empire as a spiritual sequel.

Ryan M. gave it a10:
Absolutely astonishing gameplay. The simple interface is nice and allows beginners to easily adjust to the uniquely great gameplay. Hotkeys speed things up and the option to remove certain effects from the game such as bullet effects can speed things up for the people with older computers. Even with the graphics engine I would still prefer this game to almost any present day console game. Long and tedious missions actually require you to think instead of just building a huge fleet and bombarding the enemy, because of this it stays away from a stereotypical approach to gameplay. Soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in any videogame, right up there with final fantasy and halo games. A well placed music track of Adagio for Strings really shines. The soundtrack and the game are definately worth your buy.

Meestyk Icebolt (We're destined) gave it a10:
Flashback: I used to play this game back when it was out. I waited for reviews before picking this up. 2 weeks later, Homeworld became my only desire for weeks on end. Even now, it taunts me from the CD shelf. If you've never played Homeworld and you're into this kind of game, you've been missing out. A classic gem. What are you waiting for?

Michael G. gave it a10:
I picked this out of a bargain bin and wow was I suprised. This game is a funny one, at first you don't get what the fuss is about. Sure the graphics are amazing, but the single player seems slow and unimpressive. However, once you fight a battle later in the game you will be hooked forever. The battles are intense and your tactics must be spot on or your whole fleet will be space dust. There are all sorts of great tactical devices to use in battles too such as cloaking generators, gravity wells, shielded frigates, mine layers etc. All adding to the fun. Even now, 4 years later i still play this game regularly. I still find new ways of completing it and the great soundtrack and graphics make the whole experience an amazing one. The only downside to this game is that after you've defeated all the enemies on a level you must wait for your resource collectors to finish collecting everything which can take a VERY long time on some levels. You can move on to the next level if you dont want to wait but resources are so tight in this game that you cant afford to just leave it behind. In fact if I lose a Heavy Cruiser - the most expensive ship in the game, I reload the level (unless its the last level). An automatic resource collection feature would've been nice when you leave to the next level. Appart from that one flaw this is one of the greatest games ever made. Easy to learn but impossible to master it has me hooked forever! Forget about Cataclysm and Homeworld 2, this is the original and one of the greatest ever strategy games. Now, wheres the cd...

Andrew K. gave it a9:
Excellent gameplay with balanced units between races. Includes a great storyline and single player missions that can actually be quite challenging. The MP aspect is well-done, with many custom maps that have been and spread through the community over the years, I have been a fan of this game for many years and as a veteren RTS gamer I can say this game ranks in my personal top three.